Editorial: Time to write rules for a casino license

The latest big plan for a new casino in the Catskills is flashy and impressive, yet still respects what the region once was. Preliminary sketches show an attempt to fit into the natural environment, which is, after all, what drew people to the area long before the buffets.

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recordonline.com

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Posted Feb. 13, 2014 at 2:00 AM

Posted Feb. 13, 2014 at 2:00 AM

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The latest big plan for a new casino in the Catskills is flashy and impressive, yet still respects what the region once was. Preliminary sketches show an attempt to fit into the natural environment, which is, after all, what drew people to the area long before the buffets.

The $400 million Foxwoods Catskills Resort Casino would sit on 1,200 acres of land near the old Grossinger's resort. It joins at least five other would-be casino sites with similar amenities, including golf courses, pools, lots of rooms and suites.

Some of the contenders are clear that the casino license is the essential ingredient. Without it, nothing is going to happen. Some have said that they are going ahead with construction anyway, building a resort that would easily accommodate a casino.

This latest one has something to sell on both sides.

"This is first and foremost a resort," one of the executives said. "It just happens to be a casino."

The local reception to this plan was enthusiastic, as have been all the local receptions to all of the plans. No matter how many local officials, union leaders and interested citizens cheer at these gatherings, however, there is only one audience that counts. That's the one in Albany, especially the panel that is slowly coming together to assess all of the applicants and decide which ones will get the coveted licenses.

The more we learn about the decor and the landscaping, the more we hear about the impact on construction jobs and the chance for continuing employment, the more important it becomes for the governor and legislators to start providing details about what will eventually let one applicant get a license and send another one away without one.

When it comes to casinos, this is really the end of the line. Those communities that want a casino yet do not get one in this round will not have a second chance.

At this point, we have no idea what they are looking for, what will separate winners from losers, whether a racetrack will help or hinder, for example. We don't even know which counties will get licenses. The amendment approved by legislators and voters specified up to seven licenses. The bill passed by the Legislature contained the potential for the Catskills to get one, two, even three.

At this point there are no guarantees. It's about time for the governor and those who will make the decisions to start getting specific. Those who are seeking a license need to know what the all-powerful siting committee is looking for. Communities need to know what they can do to help the chances of their local favorites.

The state is about to embark on a historic and very important quest to help boost the economies of some places that have long needed a helping hand. It would be cruel to keep allowing them to get their hopes up only to learn later this year that they failed to provide the kind of plans and promises that made others winners, especially when nobody has been given any indication from Albany about how these choices will be made.